A History of Assam c14.47

c14.47

At last a move was made and, in January, 1794, the whole expedition advanced to Koliābar. Gaurināth here sent for Captain Welsh and, after recounting his misfortunes, the evils inflicted on the people by his bad ministers, and the invaluable services rendered him by the British Government, declared that he possessed neither the ability nor inclination to transact business with his officers. He therefore begged him to concert the necessary measures with them. He also wrote to the Governor-General, begging that Captain Welsh might be permitted to employ the troops under his command in any way that might seem expedient to him and the ministers for the restoration of order, and undertaking to pay a sum of Rs. 3,00,000 annually for their maintenance. Of this sum half was to be collected by the Bar Phukan from the districts under his control, and the other half by the Bar Barua from the rest of the Ahom dominions. In consultation with the Bar Gohāin, the Barpātra Gohāin and the Solāl Gohāin, Captain Welsh appointed the Pāni Siliā Gohāin to be Bar Barua, while two princes who had escaped the general sentence of mutilation pronounced on the royal family by Gaurināth, when he ascended the throne, were given the posts of Sāring Raja and Tipām Raja, respectively. A letter was despatched to the Moāmariās chiefs, calling on them to settle their differences with the Raja, and assuring them of their safety should they do so, but adding that, if they refused, the blame would rest on their own shoulders. It was afterwards ascertained that this letter never reached its destination, the bearer of it having been afraid, or unable, to pass through the outlying rebel forces.